Attachment for hay-racks.



W. H. VENARD. ATTACHMENT FOR HAY RACKS.

APPLTCATTOH FILED Ammo. 1915.

4, 1917. 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

m. D M m W. H. VENARD.

ATTACHMENT FOR HAY RACKS.

APPLICATION FILED AUG- IO. 1915.

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WILLIAM H. VENARD, OF RIDGE, COLORADO.

ATTACHMENT FOR HAY-RACKS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Dec. 4, 1917.

Application filed August 10, 1915. Serial No. 44,749.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that 1, WILLIAM H. YnNARD, a citizen of the United States, residing at Ridge, in the county of Jefferson and State of Colorado, have invented new and useful Improvements in Attachments for Hay- Racks, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to attachments for hay racks or hay frames, and it has for l't-S object to provide an improved devlce which is capable of being easily and quickly attached to and assembled with a hay rack of ordinary construction for the purpose of tightening and securing the tie ropes whereby the load is bound securely in position.

A further object of the invention is to produce a device of the character described whereby two tie ropes may be simultanes ously tightened or loosened, means being provided for securing the parts at various adjustments.

With these and other ends in view wh ch will readily appear as the nature of the 1nvention is better understood, the same consists in the improved construction and novel arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fully described and particularly pointed out in the claim.

In the accompanying drawings hasbeen illustrated a simple and preferred form of the invention, it being, however, understood that no limitation is necessarily madeto the precise structural details therein exhibited, but that changes, alterations and mod1fications within the scope of the claim may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawings,

Figure l is a rear end view of a hay rack to which the improved attachment has been applied.

Fig. 2 is a rear view showlng the hay rack loaded and the tie ropes tightened.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the rack with the attachment applied thereto.

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view taken on the line H in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a perspective view showing the improved appliance detached from the rack.

Corresponding parts in the several figures are denoted by like characters of reference.

The improved device includesa pair of brackets 15, each provided at its lower edge and at the forward portion thereof with a laterally extending flange 16. The brackets afford bearings for a drum shaft 17 extending through openings in the rearward unfianged portions thereof, and which may be either solid or of tubular construction, said drum shaft being provided With ratchet wheels 18 disposed adjacent to the outer faces of the brackets, and said ratchet wheels having hubs 19 each provided with a fastening device, such as a set screw 20, whereby it may be adjustably secured on the drum shaft. The drum shaft is provided near its outer ends with eye bolts 21, one at each end. Pivotally connected with each bracket 15 on the outer face thereof is a pawl or dog 22 engaging the ratchet wheel 18. The drum shaft is provided intermediate the brackets 15 with transverse apertures 23 for the reception of an arm or lever 24 whereby it may be rotated.

In practice, the brackets 15 are securely mounted, by screws, bolts or other fastening means, on the sills 25 of a hay rack or frame, as shown in the drawings, the brackets being mounted at the rear ends of the sills so that the ends of the brackets supporting the drum shaft will extend rearwardly of the sills. The flanges 16 will bear against the under faces of the sills, thereby z reinforcing the construction and preventing displacement of the brackets under heavy strain. The tie ropes 26, two of which are used, are connected at their front ends with the front cross bar 27 of the hay rack, the rear ends of said ropes being connected with the eye bolts 21.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings hereto annexed, the operation and advantages of this invention will be readily understood. After the hay rack is loaded the tie ropes are thrown over the load and connected with the eye bolts, each rope being properly tightened before being connected with its respective eye bolt after which by rotating the drum shaft, the ropes will be wound thereon, being thus tightened upon the load to the desired extent, the pawl 22 serving to prevent the drum shaft from rotating reversely. When,

as frequently happens, the load is unevenly divided at the two sides of the wagon, the tie ropes, being first independently tightened over the load, will compress the same evenly throughout, causing it to be held with perfeet security. To loosen the tie ropes, one of the dogs is thrown out of engagement with its ratchet, and the operator may then by manipulating the arm or lever 2a with one hand and the remaining pawl with the other hand gradually loosen the tie ropes and finally disconnect the ropes from the eye bolts, thus leaving the load free for unloading. The parts may be so arranged and proportioned that one of the dogs may be thrown clear out of engagement with its ratchet beneath the frame structure of the hay rack; if the parts are so proportioned that parts of the framework will lie in the path of the pawls, hangers or keepers, as shown at 30, may be pivotally mounted on the rear cross bar of the hay frame to support one or both pawls in non-engaging position with respect to the ratchets.

It will be seen that I have produced a very simple and inexpensive device which is capable of being very readily and quickly attached to and assembled with an ordinary hay rack or frame and which, when applied,

will enable the load to be very quickly and securely tied for transportation, enabling the cumbersome and objectionable ridge pole to be dispensed with, greatly facilitating the work and reducing the time required in its performance, and also providing moresecure tying means than heretofore.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is

In combination with a hay rack, a pair of brackets disposed against the outer sides of the ends of the sills of the rack and extending beyond the ends thereof, inwardly extending, flanges on the lower edges of said brackets and secured against the under sides of the sills, a drum of uniform diameter journaled through said brackets and disposed beyond the ends of the sills and provided with lever engaging openings, ratchets detachably secured on said drum outwardly of and disposed against the sides of the sills and preventing lateral movement of the drum, pawls pivoted on the outer sides of said sills and engaging said ratchets, and cables secured upon one end of the rack and to said drum outwardly of said ratchets.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesse WILLIAM H. VENARD.

WVitnesses ARTHUR A. SNELL, FENNER F. BURTON.

, Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of latents,

Washington, D. G. 

